Traditional Thai dancers wearing protective face shields against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus perform at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok on March 12, 2021. (Photo: AFP)

The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide has increased to 2,630,841 with the global confirmed cases reaching 118,625,333 as of 6:30 pm BJT on Friday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Current status (data as of 6:30 pm BJT, Mar 12):

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized the "many examples of vaccine nationalism and vaccine hoarding" as well as side deals with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers that undermine access to all people in the world.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,005,204 as of Friday morning and the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 107,001, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday 4,578 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the highest daily number in nearly six months, pushing the Southeast Asian country's total tally to 611,618.

Italy's government was expected Friday to announce the closure of schools, restaurants and shops across most of the country as a new wave of coronavirus infections puts hospitals under strain.

Laos continues to administer the first batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccine among specific group of people with higher infection risks, which is expected to be completed by March 20.